Micromorphology and spectroscopic characteristics of organic matter in waterlogged podzols of the upper Amazon basin

In waterlogged environments of the upper Amazon basin, organic matter is a major driver in the podzolisation of clay-depleted laterites, especially through its ability to weather clay minerals and chelate metals. Its structure in eight organic-rich samples collected at the margin and in the centre of the podzolic area of a soil sequence was investigated. The samples illustrate the main steps in the development of waterlogged podzols and belong either to eluviated topsoil A horizons or to illuviated subsoil Bhs, Bh and 2BCs horizons. Organic matter micromorphology was described, and the overall molecular structure of their clay size fractions was assessed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Organic features of the horizons strongly vary both vertically and laterally in the sequence. Topsoil A horizons are dominated by organic residues juxtaposed to clean sands with a major aliphatic contribution. In the subsoil, numerous coatings, characteristic of illuviation processes, are observed in the following horizons: (i) At the margin and bottom parts of the podzolic area, dark brown organic compounds of low aromacity with abundant oxygen-containing groups accumulate in Bhs and 2BCs horizons. Their spectroscopic features agree with the observation of cracked coatings in 2BCs and the presence of organometallic complexes, whose abundance decreases towards low lying positions. (ii) By contrast, black organic compounds of high aromacity with few chelating functions accumulate as coatings and infills in the overlying sandy Bh horizon of well-expressed waterlogged podzols. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

New materials based on modified synthetic Nb2O5 as photocatalyst for oxidation of organic contaminants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relation between kinetic parameters for reactions of organic matter degradation in waste environmental matrix

The organic fraction of urban solid residues disposed of in sanitary landfills during the decomposition yields biogas and leachate, which are sources of pollution. Leachate is a resultant liquid from the decomposition of substances contained in solid residues and it contains in its composition organic and inorganic substances. Literature shows an increase in the use of thermoanalytical techniques to study the samples with environmental interest, this way thermogravimetry is used in this research. Thermogravimetric studies (TG curves) carried out on leachate and residues shows similarities in the thermal behavior, although presenting complex composition. Residue samples were collected from landfills, composting plants, sewage treatment stations, leachate, which after treatment, were submitted for thermal analysis. Kinetic parameters were determined using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. In this case they show little divergence between the kinetic parameter that can be attributed to different decomposition reaction and presence of organic compounds in different phases of the decomposition with structures modified during degradation process and also due to experimental conditions of analysis.

Efficiency of bioaugmentation in the removal of organic matter in aquaculture systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mutagenic compounds generated from the chlorination of disperse azo-dyes and their presence in drinking water

The water produced by the Cristais River Drinking Water Treatment Plant (CR-DWTP) repeatedly produced mutagenic responses that could not be explained by the presence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) generated by the reaction of humic acids and chlorine. In order to determine the possible role of chlorinated dye products in this mutagenic activity, solutions of a black dye commercial product (BDCP) composed of C. I. Disperse Blue 373, C. I. Disperse Orange 37, C. I. Disperse Violet 93, and chemically reduced BDCP (R-BDCP) were chlorinated in a manner similar to that used by the CR-DWTP. The resulting solutions were extracted with XAD-4 along with one drinking water sample collected from the CR-DWTP. All extracts showed mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay. Dye components of the BDCP as well as its reduced chlorinated (Cl-R-BDCP) derivative were detected in the drinking water sample by analysis with a high performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector (HPLC/DAD). The mutagenicity results of these products suggest that they are, at least in part, accounting for the mutagenic activity detected in the drinking water samples from the Cristais River. The data obtained in this study have environmental and health implications because the chlorination of the BDCP and the R-BDCP leads to the formation of mutagenic compounds (Cl-BDCP and Cl-R-BDCP), which are potentially important disinfection byproducts that can contaminate the drinking water as well as the environment.

Solid-state compounds of 4-methoxybenzylidenepyruvate and cinnamylidenepyruvates with thorium (IV) - Preparation and thermal studies

By close control of experimental variables affecting precipitation, solid-state compounds of the type Th(OH)(m)L4-m.nH(2)O, where L stands for 4-methoxy-benzylidenepyruvate, cinnamylidenepyruvate or 4-dimethylaminocinnamylidene-pyruvate; m=0 to 3 and n=0.5-3 were isolated. Chemical analysis, TG, DTG, DSC and X-ray powder diffractometry have been employed to characterize and to study the thermal behavior of these compounds in dynamic air atmosphere. In all cases, hydration water is slowly lost between 30 and 160degreesC; a continuous, slow rate, mass loss is observed thereafter and beyond 280-400degreesC the rate of decomposition/oxidation increased rapidly, to give ThO2 as the final product, beginning at 412-510degreesC. The results associated with the hydroxo-compounds indicate that the loss of constitution water (OH ions) and the decomposition / oxidation of the organic moieties occur as simultaneous process.

Effect of Mouriri pusa extracts on experimentally induced gastric lesions in rodents: Role of endogenous sulfhydryls compounds and nitric oxide in gastroprotection

Several plants are used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Mouriri pusa Gardn. (Melastomataceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used in the central region of Brazil against gastric ulcer. Two organic extracts methanolic (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) obtained by sequential extraction from the leaves of Mouriri pusa were evaluated for their ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (0.3 M HCl/60% EtOH, absolute ethanol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, stress and pylorus ligature) in mice and rats. The best results were obtained after pretreatment with MeOH extract whereas the DCM extract did not show the same significant antiulcerogenic activity. No acute toxicity was observed in animals treated with 5 g/kg, p.o. of MeOH extract. The mechanism involving the antiulcerogenic action of MeOH extract seemed to be related to NO generation and also suggested the effective participation of endogenous sulfhydryl group in the gastroprotective action. Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of Mouriri pusa yielded tannins, flavonoids and (-)-epicatechin. The presence of these phenolic compounds probably would explain the antiulcerogenic effect of the polar extract of Mouriri pusa leaves. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Production of volatile compounds by Geotrichum fragrans using cassava wastewater as substrate

The cassava processing industry generates wastewater named manipueira with a high organic content. Although considered a pollutant, manipueira can be used as substrate for fermentative processes including the cultivation of Geotrichum fragrans. This aerobic microorganism isolated from cassava wastewater has cyanide resistant respiration. Under cassava wastewater cultivation, G. fragrans produced fruit aroma volatile compounds. This study evaluated volatile compounds produced by G. fragrans in cassava liquid waste. The waste had a sugar composition composed of dextrin (2.6%), maltose (1.4%), sucrose (32.1%), glucose (38.3%), and fructose (25.6%). The average value of total sugars was 58.2 g l(-1), composed of 38.0 g l(-1) reducing and 20.2 g l(-1) non-reducing sugars. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) average value was 60 000 mg l(-1). G. fragrans used sugars (fructose and glucose) for energy generation reducing the COD value of the cassava wastewater by 40%. Biomass production of G. fragrans cultivated for 12 h in natural cassava liquid waste was 12.8 g l(-)1. The volatile compounds identified in the cassava liquid waste after 72 h cultivation were: 1-butanol, 3-methyl 1-butanol (isoamylic alcohol), 2-methyl 1-butanol, 1-3 butanodiol and phenylethanol; ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, 2-methyl ethyl propionate and 2-methyl propanoic. The effect of substrate supplementation with glucose (50 g l(-1)), fructose (50 g l(-1)) and aqueous yeast extract (200 ml l(-1)) did not affect the qualitative and quantitative profiles of volatile compounds. These results indicate that the carbon (C) source utilized by microorganism was glucose or fructose, while nitrogen (N) supplementation was not necessary because the agent did not exhaust all the nitrogen of the wastewater. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

SOLIDS COATED WITH SODIUM TETRACHLOROPALLADATE - SORBENTS FOR REDUCED SULFUR-COMPOUNDS IN AIR

A study of the preconcentration of tioethers in air by means of the passage of gas flow on solid sorbents coated with sodium tetrachloropalladate was undertaken with the aim of achieving chemical fixation. This fixation presented high specificity and blocked the migration of the sorbed compound through the other active sites. The species obtained were selectively dissolved in organic solvents, resulting in the sulfur reduced compound concentration in the organic phase, which could be determined spectrophotometrically.

Enhanced emission from Eu(III) beta-diketone complex combined with ether-type oxygen atoms of di-ureasil organic-inorganic hybrids

Organic-inorganic hybrids, named di-ureasils and described by polyether-based chains grafted to both ends to a siliceous backbone through urea cross linkages, were used as hosts for incorporation of the well-known coordination complex of trivalent europium (Eu3+) ions described by the formula [Eu(TTA)(3)(H2O)(2)] (where TTA stands for thenoyltrifluoroacetone). By comparing with Eu3+-doped di-ureasil without complex form the new materials prepared here enhanced the quantum efficiency for photoemission of Eu3+ ions. The enhancement can be explained by the coordination ability of the organic counterpart of the host structure which is strong enough to displace water molecules in [Eu(TTA)(3)(H2O)(2)] from the rare earth neighbourhood after the incorporation process. High intensity of Eu3+ emission was observed with a low non-radiative decay rate under ultraviolet excitation. The quantum efficiency calculated from the decay of D-5(0) emission was 74%, which in the same range of values previously obtained for the most efficient Eu3+ coordination compounds reported in literature. Luminescence, X-ray absorption and infrared absorption results considered together leads to a picture where the first coordination shell of Eu3+ is composed of the 6 oxygen atoms of the 3 beta-diketonate ligands and 2 ether-like oxygen atoms of the host. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Eu3+ doped polyphosphate-aminosilane organic-inorganic hybrids

The preparation and characterization of new Eu3+ doped polyphosphate-aminosilane hybrids xerogels is reported. Eu3+ D-5(0) emission quantum efficiency ranges from 0.41 to 0.54 depending on the SUP ratio. These rather high values are due to the substitution of phosphate and amino groups for water in the Eu3+ coordination shell. Raman and Si-29 and C-13 CP-MAS NMR results suggest that no strong interaction exists between the polyphosphate and the siloxane parts. Not fully condensed siloxane colloidal domains seem to be homogeneously distributed in the polyphosphate network. Good optical quality and favorable Eu3+ spectroscopic characteristics suggest these new hybrids as good hosts for lanthanide ions in optical devices. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Cyclometallated compounds of intramolecular coordination.

This article supplies a review on the chemistry of cyclometallated compounds. Emphasis is given to those formed by cyclometallation reactions. In this class of complexes, called organometallic intramolecular-coordination compounds, a special attention is given to the reactivity of cyclometallated of palladium(II) due to their use in important chemical processes. Metal-carbon bonds in these palladium(II) complexes can undergo a large variety of insertion reactions and they offer a potentially important sequence in organic synthetic methodology,homogeneous catalysis and liquid crystals manufacturing.

Titania-based organic-inorganic hybrid planar waveguides

Eu3+ -doped titania-silica planar waveguides were prepared from tetraethylorthotitanate (TEOT) and modified silane 3-amino-propyltriethoxysilane (APTS). Films were deposited on borosilicate glass substrates by a dip-coating technique. The refractive index, the thickness and the total attenuation coefficient of the waveguides were measured at 632.8 and 1550 nm by prism coupling technique. Starting from pure titania films, the addition of modified silane leads to a decrease in the refractive index and an increase in thickness. Squared electric field simulation has shown that the light confinement in the waveguide increases with the silane content of the so]. Emission spectra present a broad emission band due to the modified silane and EU emission transitions arising mainly from the D-5(0) level to the F-7(J) (J = 0-4) manifolds. The dependence of transition intensities and excited state lifetimes on the initial composition and also on the heat treatment performed was interpreted in terms of structural changes occurring during the preparation process. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Organic complexation and translocation of ferric iron in podzols of the Negro River watershed. Separation of secondary Fe species from Al species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of the cultivation system in the aroma of the volatile compounds and total antioxidant activity of passion fruit

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)